Time-controlled circuit-closer.



H. P. CHRISTIANSON.

TIME CONTROLLED CIRCUIT CLOSER.

APPLICATION FILED 1320.27, 1911.

1,037,1 3O, Patented Aug. 27, 1912.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HANS I. CHRISTIANSON, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO A. J. HANFORD, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

TIME-CONTROLLED CIRCUIT-CLOSER.

Application filed December 27, 1911.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HANS P. CHRISTIAN- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Time Controlled Circuit-Closers, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to electrical. signaling devices and has special reference to a time control circuit closer for such devices.

The principal object of the invention is to improve the general construction of such circuit closers.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for preventing accidental closing of a circuit at any other than the predetermined time.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction, and arrange ments of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several. views, and Figure 1 is a front view of the circuit closer partly in section and showing the diagrammatic connection with a signal and source of electric energy as well as a battery. Fig. 2 is a diametric section through Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the circuit closer showing the wiring connections therefor. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4.4, Fig. 1, the section being enlarged better to show the operating parts.

The circuit closer herein described consists of a casing 10 which is provided with the usual door 11 behind which is located the works of a clock, not deemed necessary here to be shown as the same may be of any well-known type of clock works. These clock works are arranged to cause an hour hand 12 and a minute hand 13 to travel over a dial 14 having the usual divisions.

The door 11 is provided adjacent the dial with an annular groove 15 wherein moves a T-shaped ring 16 of insulating material, the door likewise being preferably of insulating material. At each side of the T- shaped ring there is secured a ring 17 of conducting material, the rings being spaced so that the stem of the T fits between them and thus they are insulated from each Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 27 1912. Serial No. 668,085.

other. The stem of the T is arranged. to project slightly above the ring 17 as can readily be seen by reference to Fig. 4, and the T-shaped ring is also provided with oppositely disposed recesses 18 wherein are fitted conductors 19 which are so arranged that they are insulated from each other to engage the rings 17. Upon the hour hand 12 is secured a contact finger 20 which normally presses upon the stem of the T- shaped ring 16 and is thus held from contact with the rings 17 and prevented from establishing a circuit between said rings. When, however, the finger 20 comes in c011- tact with the L-shaped strips-19 electrical connection is established between the ring 17 since a current will be enabled to flow from one strip 17 to the corresponding member 19, finger 20, other member 19, to the other strip.

Extending longitudinally through the easing 10 is an opening or bore 21 and the casing 10 is provided at its upper end with a recess 22 covered by a plate 23 held to the casing by suitable screws 24. Within the recess 22 are secured binding posts 25. A wire 26 leads from each of said binding posts to a respective ring 17, being soldered or otherwise electrically connected thereto. Other wires 27 lead from said binding post 25 through the bore 21 and are connected to binding posts 28 preferably positioned upon the bottom of the casing 10. These binding posts are arranged to engage the ends of wires 29 one of which leads to a battery or other source of electricity as indicated at 30 while the other leads to a signal 31 of any desired type, but here indicated as a bell, said bell and battery being connected by a conductor 32.

In order to insure the perfect contact of the finger 20 with the members 19 the stem of the T 16 is preferably cut away between said members 19 to form a depression 33 and this depression 33 acts as a thumb notch for engagement by the thumb nail of a person when turning the ring.

It will be obvious that the members 19 may be of any length desired so that the alarm may be rung for a length of time depending upon these strips.

In the operation. of the device the thumb nail or a convenient object for instance the end of a knife blade is caught in the thumb notch 33 and the members 19 move around until the ends of said members which will first be in contact with the fingers 20 are set at the hour at which it is desired to operate the alarm. VVhen't-he hour hand 12 passes over the dial and engages said members 19 a circuit will be established from one of the rings 17 across to the other as previously described and this will close the circuit through the battery and bell and sound the alarm. The alarm will continue sounding as long as the finger 20 remains in contact with the members 19. For the purpose of cutting out the alarm when desired the switch St is usually inserted in the circuit and under ordinary circumstances is closed.

There has thus been provided a simple and efficient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that many minor changes may be made in the term and construction thereof without departing from the material principles thereof, and it is therefore not desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is wished to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed new is:

1. In a device of the kind described, a circuit closer comprising a clock work mechanism, spaced rings concentric of said mechanism, an insulating ring between said spaced rings and extending thereabove throughout the greater portion of its length, a finger actuated by said clock work mechanism and passing over said insulating ring in contact therewith, and contact members between certain portions of the insulating ring and bearing against the spaced rings.

2. In a device of the kind described, a circuit closer comprising a clock work mechanism, an annular groove concentric with said clock work mechanism, a T-shaped insulating ring having the head held in said groove and the stem projecting thereabove', spaced rings secured concentric to said groove and overlapping the head of the T-shaped ring to hold the same within said groove, said T-shaped ring being provided with recesses on opposite sides of the stem, contact members held in said recesses, said stem being cut away between said contact members to form a thumb notch and permit the contact members to extend above said stem, and a finger controlled by said clock work mechanism and passing over said insulating ring and contact members to engage the same.

In testimony whereof I a'llix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HANS P. CHRISTIANSON.

lVitnesses A. J. HANroRD, F. P. Sormononn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 3. C." 

